PPC is on the rise as search and social intertwine, survey showsSpending on pay-per-click ads by enterprise technology, consumer electronics and retail brands rose 15% year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2012, according to a Covario survey. The growth drivers were increased spending on content marketing, mobile and video, as well as international expansion. "Social media has become intertwined with search. We know through content syndication and social sharing that we can drive social signals to help organic search, as well as influencer-personalized search results across the search result page," says Mike Gullaksen, Covario's senior vice president and managing director. BtoB Magazine
(3/19)

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Eye on Marketing

Why aren't small companies spending more on online advertising?Small companies are dedicating only 3% of their advertising budgets to online initiatives, according to a study by The Boston Consulting Group. Small business' reluctance to pay for online advertising may be due to prior negative experiences or because they are overwhelmed with options, said John Rose, a senior partner at the consultancy. "It's pretty hard for them to winnow their way through the 20 to 40 unsolicited requests they get a month to use digital marketing product A versus digital marketing product B," he said. Adweek
(3/19)

A successful webinar requires planning, ad libbingFinding speakers with excellent communications skills is one important factor in conducting a successful webinar, Kristin Kovner writes. Start five minutes late to allow for log-in delays, use multiple players in the show to break up the monotony and prepare for technical glitches such as videos not playing on cue. Also, don't be shy about planting a ringer in the audience to make sure the Q-and-A session at least starts out well, Kovner adds. ClickZ
(3/19)

Microsoft advances mobility in new ERP appsMicrosoft's AX 2012 is being updated to include applications that will improve expense management, time management and approvals while connecting "with a social milieu," Chris Kanaracus writes. The enterprise resource planning modules support Windows RT as well as Windows Phone 8, iOS and Android devices. A point-of-sales mobile app for RT and Windows Phone 8 as well as a mobile version of Dynamics CRM have also been announced. Computerworld/IDG News Service
(3/19)

Facebook helps advertisers spot lookalikesFacebook has unveiled Lookalike Audiences, a tool that helps advertisers identify consumers similar to those they're already targeting. The service uses the e-mail addresses, phone numbers and user IDs used in marketers' Custom Audiences databases to locate similar consumers. Mashable
(3/19)

Innovation or stagnation? Observers dividedA debate is developing over whether the pace of major technological innovations is slackening to the point of near stagnation. One factor in how quickly progress is made is the role of governments, which talk a good game but often act in the other direction with stifling regulations and a reluctance to fund the kinds of projects that can produce big payoffs, writes Paul Sloane. InnovationExcellence.com
(3/19)